SalesHQ

They say if you want to overcome fear and develop courage and self-confidence to join a good course in public speaking - not just a lecture course.  But to join a course where you make a talk at every meeting.  They say when you lose your fear of speaking to an audience, you lose your fear of talking to individuals, no matter how big and important they are.

I would like to know if anyone has taken this type of route to improve themselves and what TRUE benefits they received? Did it help? Was it a waste of time?  Do you think Toastmasters is great?  What are your opinions? 

Have fun with this!

Yes,When i join MBA(Tourism & Hospitality), i had stage fear, i couldn't give Presentation Confidently.During the Presentation time i got nervous.

I couldn't participate in Group Disscusion.

after 3 month there was change in myself.I got excellent skill in Presentation.My confident level was also high. I remember that i had gave speeches of 1 hours without stopping. I actively participate in GD also.

Many reasons may be there for fear as below;

• Lack of knowledge


• Lack of awareness & information


• Lack of intrest in subject.


• Because of Inferiority-complex etc.

How can we ovrecome on our fear?

• By incresing knowledge & awareness


• By throwing the inferiority-complex from mind


• By participating in Disscusion & Presentation.


• Start talks with confident & prove that you are right as always.


• Friendly nature also help you to build up confident


• Creativity......................etc,

Many people have talent & Knowldege but i don't know why their confident level is low???? Pls suggest.One of my friend is also among such people

I belonged to Toastmasters in the 70's while managing my first business. It was a greast experience. I was scared to death to get in front of a group of more than a couple of people. Most of the people in Toastmasters were older than me. Several of them became mentors and helped me gain confidence in my abilities. slowly, I got better and better at it. Today, I am as comfortable to speak one-on-one as in front of a large group.

One of the best pieces of advice I can give someone, is to remember, you have more knowledge on the particular subject being presented than probably anyone in the audience. Use this to your advantage and speak from a position of confidence. Needless to say, you need to beleive in yourself!

Anna, good point. I have yet to get into this new arena. It is absolutely becoming the way to hold meetings. Body language is huge when making presentations.

It feels great when you find yourself being in a spur of the moment meeting and find your not running to the washroom to towel yourself down.  lol

We have Toastmasters in Australia too, and I've recommended it to many employees.  I don't have a lot of trouble presenting - as long as I am well prepared and know my stuff.  However it took me a long while to get to that space, the sort of thing that comes with having had many presentation experiences.  And that's why Toastmasters can be so effective.  It crams a whole lot of speaking experiences into a short time - lots of speaking in front of people within the group - and this means that your confidence builds in a shorter amount of time.

Toastmasters is great, and there are clubs everywhere. It's for anybody that wants to become a better speaker. That includes good speakers who want to improve, and also those who want to overcome specific challenges (fear of speaking, etc.). There are competitions for those who want to compete, but most don't. It's a supportive group with admirable goals and I highly recommend it.

Jack great advice and those groups are always looking to find a speaker for their events. What better way to introduce you to Joe Public. A perfect icebreaker to the community .

The absolute besy way to overcome fear is to face that fear until that fear disappears.

 Becoming prepared  equals facing that fear.

chances are greater with the number of people listening to you that more than one fit that bill. If not one must look in the mirror. WINK

her? We all know women cannot possibly do that kind of thing.

Without action nothing is power,accepting no is a no win situation for the client and the sales person. Facing the fear of rejection and overcoming that fear allows that sales professional to go farther with that no reply and guide the client into the ownership exchange.

 Learn how to network and grow fears into positives.Feel comortable in any situation

  I hear all the time the first step is the most important step. When you take a step you really have not gone anywhere. You have one foot still in the same position the actual change is in the second step. Once the second step is made real change can occur leaving no chance of a backward step to safety.

  Risks do come with a reward how large depends on what  the person is wllling to give to get.

do not catch yourself saying I wish I could, instead of  I have done.

I have heard great things about the Toastmasters and know many people who participate in it. The main thing for me in overcoming my fear of speaking to groups or individuals was putting myself into that situation as much as possible. I would go to networking events and tell myself, they want to talk to me as much as I want to talk to them. It only takes a small spark to light a fire. Once I would make that initial opener the conversation just seemed to flow. The more I did it, the more confident I became. So my confidence growing route was simply putting myself in as many speaking situations as possible. If all else fails I would practice by going to a mall or busy street and striking up conversation with strangers :)

rich34232 says ...

face that fear until the fear goes away.

 The only fear I cannot master is "The Look" That I get from my wife when she thinks I am an idiot

lol, isn't that something rich? out in the world, masters of our trade, respected and feared by those we do business with... yet, the signifigant others have a whole different perspective...

Maybe you should sell something to your wife so she can see you in the same light as your customers?

rich34232 says ...

I did sell her a bill of goods in 1980 and signed papers  that  said that in 1981. Warranty and  guarantee has run its course and she has no recourse. No rebate either.I think she likes me she keeps me around. Though "The Look" still scares me.I have found that when i do receive that look it is time for me to remember some techniques and shutup. I am sorry you feel that  way does not work however flowers and chocolate and my credit card help defuse that situation in a hurry.

Rich last time that happene to me, it cost me a very nice white & rose gold ring, when usually a cup of Lady Grey tea and a slice of Ginger cake would suffice.

Would rather present to a hostile bunch from my former competitors on their failing business plan now!